Friday, April 25, 2014

Slumgullion - PM Version

Karen Gillan has nothing to fear from mirrors in this movie.

Photo from the Not Another Happy Ending Facebook page.

I did an AM version of Slumgullion earlier today. Here are a few more items.

Tomorrow is the final day to check out critically acclaimed local artist Nicholas Sistler’sSWEATSHOP exhibit at the Images Gallery on Wilson in Chicago. There will be a closing reception from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, and Sistler will conduct a tour of the gallery at 7:00 PM. Call 773-772-6726 for information.

Old 97’s will likely be performing songs from their new Most Messed Up CD when they headline Hopefest 2014 at Park West on June 21st. So far, there’s no mention of any other acts on the bill. Admission is $30 ($35 day of the show) and $75 will get you reserved seating. Proceeds from the event will support the work of The Chicago Coalition of the Homeless.

Earlier today on BHT I mentioned some of the TV and film stars who will be guests at C2E2 (Chicago Comic And Entertainment Expo) at McCormick Place this weekend. Lots of fun, no doubt, but Doctor Who fans might be looking to the north with a sense of envy. According to writer Dan Casey from The Nerdist website, Matt Smith and Karen Gillan will be among the celebrities gathering at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo. They have a panel discussion scheduled for tomorrow at noon. I don’t have any recollection of Smith and Gillan ever visiting Chicago, but hopefully they’ll consider it someday.

Meanwhile, Gillan’s chilling new flick Oculus has been getting mostly positive reviews in the Chicago press, (I think Redeye was the only paper that panned it) for director Mike Flanagan’s pacing and Gillan’s acting. Critic Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune wrote, “Gillan rattles through a considerable amount of exposition in Oculus, and has a way of doing so that it makes the whole premise faintly comic yet completely grave underneath.” Still, I think I’d rather see Gillan’s romcom Not Another Happy Ending if it ever comes to America.

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About This Blog

Broken Hearted Toy is an eclectic celebration of creativity, with over 2,000 posts since 2009.

It's based in Chicago but covers power pop, garage, cutting-edge, and 1960s rock from around the globe; along with occasional bits on art; literature; and theatre.

Top of the hill is a nice place to be at. - - - "Elevated Observations" by The Hollies.

Check out some of my previoius creative endeavors.

Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff was a weekly Internet show created by and starring Jeff Kelley. It mostly consisted of comedy bits and obscure 1960s garage rock set to vintage TV and film clips but also spotlighted entertainment events around Illinois.

My wife Pam and I created a handful of series (each episode was about two minutes long) that were shown on Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff. They included Manchester Gallery (see description below); Old Days, which I hosted in the persona of a cranky old man named Fritz Willoughby; Roving Reporter, where I played the clueless title character; What's With Terry?, a performance arts program; and Hanging With The Hollies, a takeoff on Breakfast With The Beatles.

I've also worked with Kelley and Willy Deal on comedy clips, and with Kelley and David Metzger on films for the annual Nightmare on Chicago Street Halloween festival in Elgin.

I'm particularly proud of this 21-episode comedy series Pam and I created for Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff. Each installment was a few minutes long, and featured me portraying Terrence, the curator of a pop culture museum.

I was a staff writer for this Chicago-based magazine from 1987 to 2015. The Illinois Entertainer has been covering rock music for over 40 years, and can be found in stores and entertainment venues, as well as in an online edition.

Chicago Art Machine was a web-based publishing company run by Editor-in-Chief, Kathryn Born, and Managing Editor, Robin Dluzen, that included Chicago Art Magazine, Chicago DIY Film,Chicago Performance And Trailers, and TINC. Most of my submissions appeared in Chicago DIY Film and Chicago Performance And Trailers, although I contributed to all the online Chicago Art Machine publications.

I was a writer and performer with this local comedy group from 1989 to 2009. Famous In The Future continues to perform in the Chicago area, and appeared at every one of the Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sinstheatre festivals that were held at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre. Since the closing of the Mary-Arrchie Theatre a few years ago, Famous In The Future has carried on the tradition by presenting Yippie Fest each year in August.

I'm an active member of SCBWI, (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) and have written two Middle Grade fantasy novels. I've just finished a YA/paranormal novel, and also wrote a suspense/satiric novel that takes place amidst Chicago's alternative music scene in the mid-1980s.

Broken Hearted Toy

The blog title comes from the line, "I'm the brokenhearted toy you play with" in the song "I Can't Let Go" by The Hollies. One of the great original British Invasion bands, The Hollies continue to have an immense influence on power pop bands to this day, and have finally been inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here is a video of "I Can't Let Go" being performed in 1966.